Rein-guide and supporter.



No. 685,86I. Patented NOV. 5, |90l. C. I. ORMSBEE.

REIN GUIDE AND YSUPPORTERl (Application fued sepa. s, 1900.) (No Model.)

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CHARLES ORMSBEE, OF PLATTEVILLE, VISCONSIN.

REIN GUIDE AND SUPPORTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 685,861, dated November5, 1901.

application tiled September 8, 1900. Serial No. 29,459. V(No model.) a

T0 @ZZ whom t may coltcern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES IRA ORMSBEE, a citizen of the United States,residing at Platteville,in the county of Grant and State of Wisconsin,have invented a new and useful Rein Guide and Supporter, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to rein guides and supporters; and the object ofthe same is to provide simple and effective means for preventing thereins from becoming crossed or falling into the mud or dust after ahorse is hitched; to obviate catching the reins under parts of harnessbelow the same or under the whiffietree and held out of reach of ahorses tail; to render driving easy and avoid acluinsy appearance or aninornate effect when the device is applied, and to readily apply thedevice to harness without changing the structure of the latter ornecessitating additional fastening devices and obtain a positive andreliable securernent whereby the guide or supporter Will always bemaintained in operative relation to the parts of harness in engagingrelation therewith.

The invention consists in the construction and arrangement of theseveral parts, which will be more fully hereinafter described andclaimed.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of a rein guide orsupporterembodying the features of the invention and shown applied todotted harness parts. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of theimproved guide or supporter. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the guideor supporter on a larger scale than shown by Fig. l. Fig. 4 is a detailperspective view of a slightly-modified form of the guide or support.

Similar numerals of reference are employed to indicate correspondingparts in the several views.

In the construction of the improved guide or supporter it is proposed touse all of one "kind of material or a composition of rigid and iiexiblematerials, such as metal and leather or any other substances adapted forthe purpose. It has been found that leather, owing,

to its lightness, durability, and iiexibility, is preferable for generaluse, though different users may desire other materials, and it is alsointended that the device be ornamented with suitable metal or othertrimmings to correspond to the harness with which it is used, and in theapplication of the guide to heavy harness the several parts may bereinforced and strengthened as may be found necessary. Therefore it willbe understood that in the subsequent description a practical embodimentof the invention will be disclosed as formed of flexible material, suchas leather; but the use of the latter material contemplates thesubstitution of any other suitable material, as set forth.

The numeral l designates a hip-pad of elongated form and preferablycontinuous from end to end. This pad will also be preferably constructedof leather to make it pliable or flexible and to produce an easy bearingon the rear portion of the bodyof the animal, as Well as affordconvenient means of applying the entire device in operative position inconnection with ordinary harness. As shown by Figs. 1,2, and 3, the padis centrally traversed in a longitudinal direction by a two-partattachingstrap 2, passing over outer end loops or terrets 3, of thickermaterial, and then attached at its terminals adjacent the terminals ofthe said pad, the space between the outer lower portion of the strap andthe similar portion of the loop or terret at each end being filled bysuitable plugs 4. The center of the strap is left unattached to the padto provide means for passing the back-strap of harness between the sameand the pad, as shown by Fig. l, and one end 5 of the strap is formedwith one or more apertures to detachably engage the buckle or otheranalogous device 6 on the opposite end 7. Portions of the strap near theinner connecting ends 5 and 7 are also left unattached to the pad toform openings 8 for the passage therethrough of the hipstraps orbreeching-supports, and the outer portions of these openings 8 arereinforced by the introduction of plugs 9, as clearly shown by Fig. 2.This construction will permit the guide or supporter as an entirety tobe positively held in operative position and so that the loops orterrets will have a proper direction, and when once placed in suchposition it will remain intact with the set of harness and be alwaysready for use at the time the harness is applied.

The construction shown by Fig. 4 includes IOC all the parts justdescribed with the exception of the plugs at the intermediate points,the confining-strap in this instance being secured to the hip-padcompletely to the center opening for the passage of the back-strap, andin applying this form of the device the hipstraps are rested or passedover a two-part attaching-strap and pad between the central fasteningmeans and the end loops or terrets. This form will in many instances bepreferred by some and is more easily applied, as will be understood, andin both constructions a seat for the hip-straps is provided on each sideof the center between the central fastening means and the loops orterrets. There is no right or left adaptation uecessary,as either sideedge may be placed in advance. It is also intended to have the loops orterrets in ,some instances at a distance apart equal to the distancebetween the terrets or loops of the harness-saddle or back-pad, therebeing commonly but two Widths, so as to carry the reins regularly instraight lines from neck to tail of the animal.

In applying the improved device in either form it is preferred that thesame be fastened to the back-strap of harness in rear of the hip strapsor supporters. The reins will always be maintained in proper drivingcondition and ont of reach of a horses tail and can never fall below thelevel of the loops or terrets. By the use of the guide or supporter setforth crossing or twisting of the reins will be prevented and the saidreins can always be picked up in precisely the same position in whichthey were dropped by a driver.

Many other advantages will appear from time to time to those using thedevice, and changes in the form, size, proportions, and minor detailsmay be resorted to Without in the least departing from the principle ofthe invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is- I. Arein-guide comprising a Hexible hippad of a singleithickness, to extendtransversely across and conform to the shape of the back of the animaladjacent to the hip-straps, an attaching-strap extending longitudinallyover and secured to the npper side of said pad and having its innerterminals directly provided with separable and adjustable connectingdevices which are adapted to be united and forming with the portion ofthe pad beneath a passage for the free movement therethrough oftheback-strap of harness, and outer end stationary loops inside theterminals of the hi p-pad over which pass the opposite portions of thesaid attaching-strap to the terminal portions of the pad Where they aresecured, the loops being of thicker material than the latter strap.

2. A rein-guide comprising a Hexible hippad for arrangement transverselyof and to conform to the back of the animal adjacent the location of thehip-straps, an attachingstrap having loose inner terminals directlyprovided with separable and adjustable connecting devices which areadapted to be united and form a passage with the portion of the padbeneath for free movement of the back-strap of harness therethrough7 theouter portions of the attaching-strap being secured adjacent to the endsof the pad, andl loops near the ends of the pad over which the oppositeportions of the attaching-strap pass, the said strap being fastened tothe pad and loops its full length from the inner loose terminals exceptat points between said terminals and the loops where openings are formedfor passage between said strap and the pad ot the hip-straps.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixedmy signature in the presenceof two Witnesses.

CHAR-LES I. ORMSBEE.

Witnesses:

T. L. GLEARY, J. E. FAWCETT.

